Colombia airstrikes kill two rebels, military source says

Colombian airstrikes against the National Liberation Army killed two rebels in the northeastern Catatumbo region, a military source told AFP, as President Abelardo de la Espriella's new government expands operations against armed groups.

The Defense Ministry said the offensive against the ELN, the oldest surviving guerrilla group in the Americas, was carried out late Monday. It said two bunkers and five guerrilla camps were destroyed, with an “emphasis on protecting the civilian population.”

The state ombudsman's office said the strikes wounded at least three civilians, including a 44-year-old woman, in a village in the municipality of San Calixto. It said several families were also forced to leave their homes.

Ground troops later seized 1.5 tons of explosives, including more than 400 grenades adapted to be launched from drones, as well as several automatic rifles and ammunition.

De la Espriella took office on Friday after promising to halt his predecessor Gustavo Petro's unsuccessful peace negotiations with armed groups and confront what he called “narcoterrorism without respite.” In his first weekend as president, six members of illegal groups were killed during military operations in several parts of the country.

Violent guerrilla clashes since early last year have killed more than 100 people and displaced tens of thousands in the rural Catatumbo area, which borders Venezuela.